International Pilots To Be Trained Through Foreign Military Sales Program

A ribbon cutting was held on September 20 for the completion of new F-35 facilities at Ebbing Air National Guard Base which shares operations at Fort Smith Regional Airport (KFSM) in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The facility will be used to provide flight training for international pilots in the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II advanced fighter aircraft.

The ceremony highlighted the collaboration between the Air Education and Training Command (AETC), the 33rd Fighter Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard, the Fort Smith community, and international partners. With the base now ready to train pilots of U.S. allies, Poland will be one of the first countries to participate.

The project included construction of flight-line operations facilities, maintenance hangars, and pilot briefing rooms, and makes Ebbing fully-equipped and prepared to support the F-35 platform. Two F-35s operated by the 33rd during the two-week Agile Combat Employment exercise were in display behind the stage for the ceremony, symbolizing the mission-readiness of Ebbing.

Lt. Gen. Brian S. Robinson, AETC commander spoke about the importance of Ebbing’s role saying, “This ceremony marks the completion of critical support facilities which will enable early operating capability for the establishment of the F-35 Foreign Military Sales Pilot Training Center, right here, at Ebbing Air National Guard Base.”

Robinson continued, “Today, Ebbing Air National Guard Base is officially open for F-35 business. We are ready to train our international partners on the world’s most advanced fighter jet. The work that’s been done here, from the construction to the partnerships formed, sets the foundation for decades of global collaboration and air superiority.”

FMI:  www.af.mil/